B1 Polish GrammarSubjunctive & Conditional
Express hypothetical situations, wishes, and polite requests in Polish using the conditional mood (tryb warunkowy). Learn to form conditionals with the particle by and past tense forms. Master real vs. unreal conditions and polite conditional expressions.
1Forming the Conditional
The Polish conditional is formed with the past tense (l-participle) + the particle by. The by particle attaches to personal endings: zrobi艂bym (I would do, male), zrobi艂abym (female). This creates forms like: chcia艂bym (I would like), m贸g艂bym (I could).
Conditional Endings
| Person | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| ja | -艂bym | -艂abym |
| ty | -艂by艣 | -艂aby艣 |
| on/ona | -艂by | -艂aby |
| my | -liby艣my | -艂yby艣my |
| wy | -liby艣cie | -艂yby艣cie |
| oni/one | -liby | -艂yby |
Examples
Chcia艂bym kaw臋.
I would like coffee. (male)
-艂bym = would (male speaker)
Chcia艂abym pojecha膰 nad morze.
I would like to go to the sea. (female)
-艂abym = would (female speaker)
M贸g艂by艣 mi pom贸c?
Could you help me?
-艂by艣 for polite request
Zrobiliby艣my to razem.
We would do it together.
-liby艣my = we would
2Real Conditions (Je艣li/Je偶eli)
Real conditions use je艣li/je偶eli (if) with present or future tense. The condition is possible and may happen. Both clauses can use present, future, or imperative: Je艣li przyjdziesz, b臋d臋 szcz臋艣liwy (If you come, I'll be happy).
Real Conditional Patterns
| If-clause | Result clause | Example |
|---|---|---|
| je艣li + present | future | Je艣li chcesz, zrobi臋... |
| je艣li + future | future | Je艣li przyjdziesz, powiem... |
| je偶eli + present | present | Je偶eli pada, bior臋 parasol |
Examples
Je艣li b臋dzie pada膰, zostan臋 w domu.
If it rains, I'll stay home.
real future condition
Je偶eli chcesz, mog臋 ci pom贸c.
If you want, I can help you.
present condition
Je艣li sko艅czysz prac臋, zadzwo艅.
If you finish work, call me.
imperative in result
Je艣li masz czas, porozmawiajmy.
If you have time, let's talk.
present + 'let's'
3Unreal Conditions (Gdyby)
Unreal/hypothetical conditions use gdyby (if) with past tense forms. Both clauses use conditional forms. Gdybym wiedzia艂, powiedzia艂bym (If I knew, I would say). This expresses situations contrary to fact or unlikely to happen.
Gdyby Forms
| Person | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ja | gdybym | gdybym mia艂 czas... |
| ty | gdyby艣 | gdyby艣 chcia艂... |
| on/ona | gdyby | gdyby m贸g艂... |
| my | gdyby艣my | gdyby艣my wiedzieli... |
Examples
Gdybym mia艂 pieni膮dze, pojecha艂bym do Japonii.
If I had money, I would go to Japan.
unreal present condition
Gdyby ona tu by艂a, by艂oby weselej.
If she were here, it would be more fun.
contrary to fact
Gdyby艣 wiedzia艂 prawd臋, zrozumia艂by艣.
If you knew the truth, you would understand.
hypothetical knowledge
Gdyby艣my mieli wi臋cej czasu, zostaliby艣my d艂u偶ej.
If we had more time, we would stay longer.
we would + stay
4Wishes and Polite Expressions
The conditional is used for wishes: Chcia艂bym... (I would like...), Wola艂bym... (I would prefer...). It's also essential for polite requests: Czy m贸g艂by艣...? (Could you...?), Czy zrobi艂by艣...? (Would you do...?). This adds politeness and softens requests.
Polite Expressions
| Expression | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Chcia艂bym... | I would like... | wishes, requests |
| M贸g艂bym... | I could... | possibility |
| Wola艂bym... | I would prefer... | preferences |
| Czy m贸g艂by艣...? | Could you...? | polite questions |
Examples
Chcia艂bym zam贸wi膰 obiad.
I would like to order lunch.
polite in restaurant
Czy m贸g艂by艣 powt贸rzy膰?
Could you repeat that?
polite request
Wola艂abym herbat臋 zamiast kawy.
I would prefer tea instead of coffee.
expressing preference
By艂oby mi艂o, gdyby艣 przyszed艂.
It would be nice if you came.
polite invitation